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Hartford, CT – Last night’s election swept anti-environment lawmakers out and pro-environment lawmakers into power. The Connecticut League of Conservation Voters (CTLCV)—a bipartisan, statewide nonprofit dedicated to protecting our environment by making it a priority for our lawmakers—invested more than $200,000 in canvasses, digital advertisements, direct mail, email blasts, and other communications to connect with voters and support candidates who pledged their support for their environment.

“Thousands of people have turned up to climate marches, rallies, and forums across our state, and they showed up again at the polls,” said Lori Brown, CTLCV Executive Director. “We knew going into this election that nearly 73% of voters wanted state lawmakers to invest in clean energy and the thousands of jobs it supports, based on polling by Greenberg Quinlan Rosner. We made sure those voters knew which candidates share their goals by knocking on their doors and sending information to their mailboxes and their devices.”

The CTLCV Political Action Committee invested heavily in key campaigns across the state where the environment was on the line. Notable victories include:

Governor-Elect Ned Lamont: Lamont secured CTLCV’s endorsement with his Energy and Environment Plan. CTLCV spent over $20,000 on digital advertisements to let voters know he was the only candidate prepared to address climate change and invest in clean energy.

Mary Abrams (D-13): CTLCV was quick to endorse Abrams over her opponent, Republican incumbent Len Suzio. Suzio’s record landed him on the Dirty Dozen list of the worst anti-environment state lawmakers in the country. CTLCV sent mailers to nearly 13,000 households, knocked on over 500 doors, and invested in digital ads that appeared on over 670,000 computers, phones, and mobile devices. Abrams victory removed one of the most toxic lawmakers from our State Senate.

Christine Cohen (D-12): CTLCV endorsed Cohen for her leadership on protecting Long Island Sound, fighting pollution, and investing in clean energy. Outside groups spent heavily on this race, but Cohen’s victory shows the environment remained a motivating factor. CTLCV’s digital ads reached over 660,000 screens, and mailers were sent to more than 14,000 households.

Norm Needleman (D-33): In one of the most fiercely contested battlegrounds in the state, CTLCV endorsed Needleman for his commitment to clean energy and conservation. His opponent, Rep. Melissa Ziobron, was one of the worst anti-environment lawmakers in the house, and CTLCV invested in canvasses, direct mail, and digital ads to refute her claims of being environmentally responsible. CTLCV knocked on nearly 600 doors, mailed information to over 14,000 households, and reached over 780,000 screens with digital ads and video.

Of the 36 bipartisan candidates CTLCV endorsed for statewide office, 25 were victorious in their races, and 5 races remain too close to call.

“In Connecticut, we have a pro-environment electorate, and we tend to assume our lawmakers share our beliefs—even when that’s not the case,” said Brown. “We endorse very selectively and invest in races where we truly believe we can make a difference. With everything else in the news, the environment can be lost in the shuffle—but it’s not lost in voters’ minds. Given the latest reports from the United Nation on climate change and the pollution we can see in our air and water, it’s clear voters care about addressing these threats and protecting our environment.”

More than 100 candidates approached CTLCV for an endorsement, and over 125 signed CTLCV’s Clean Energy for All pledge, which calls on candidates and state lawmakers to commit to moving Connecticut to 100% clean energy by 2050. This strong show of support shows candidates recognize the impact CTLCV can have on our members and voters.

“CTLCV is unique among environmental groups in our state because we can invest both time and funds into key races to make sure voters know where the candidates really stand,” said Brown. “From knocking on doors to sending mail to popping up on your phones and computers, we went all out to help voters understand how their candidates could shape the future for our environment and our state.”

This information is paid for by the CTLCV Political Action Committee. This message was made independent of any candidate or political party. Contributions to the CTLCV PAC of $5,000 or more were made by CTLCV, Inc.; LCV, Inc.; and David Bingham. Additional information about the CTLCV PAC may be found on the State Elections Enforcement Commission's website (ct.gov/seec).